Doorcheck



Dec. 15, 1931- y c. N. MITCHELL. 1,836,383

DOORCHECK Filed Aug. 19. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l DOORCHECK Filed Aug. 19 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet o o l oo Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COURTNEY N. MITCHELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO DOORCHECK Application led August 19, 1927. 'Serial No. 214,043.

This invention relates to door checks or to receive a cap 2 as shownv in Fig. 2. The door closers and the main object of the invenlower end of the casing 1 tapers inwardly as tion is to `provide a simple and efficient door shown in Fig. 2. Arranged within the cascheck which is adapted for use with either ing 1 is a shaft 3 the lower end fl of which is right hand or left hand doors without a reduced and flattened on one side as shown 55 change or substitution of parts. at 5 in Figs. 2 and 5, the purpose of which Another object of the invention is to prowill hereinafter appear. The casing 1 is anvide a door check of the character described nular -in cross section and the lower end of which comprises comparatively few parte, the same is reduced as shown most clearly in which are readily assembled and disassem- Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Fitting within the casing 1 00 bled-and which is well adapted for quantity is a sleeve or spring barrel 7, the upper end production at com aratively low cost. of which is reduced and projects through the Further and more limited objects of the top of the casin r `1.` The lower end of the invention will appear as the description prosleeve or barrel 7 fits snugly within the receeds and by reference to the accompanying duced lower end of the casing 1. The spring 55 drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in side barrel 7 arranged as described divides the elevation of my improved door checks; Fig. 2 casing l into an inner compartment 8 and an avertical sectional view of-the same; Fig. 3 outer compartment 9. A locking washer 10 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but at right angles having a projection 11 thereon is pressed onto o thereto; Fig. l is a horizontal sectional view the reduced lower end of the shaft 3 so as to 70 on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a horizonbe rigid therewith. A lower spring anchor tal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; 12 is rotatably mounted on the lower end of Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view on the shaft 3 and has a lug 13 formed thereon which line 66 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a developed secengages with a projection 11 on washer 1() tional view showing the valve mechanism for when the spring anchor 12 is rotated relative 75 controlling the flo'w of liquid in the door to the shaft 3 in a manner to he more fully check and Fig. 8 is an enlarged front elevadescribed hereinafter. The spring barrel 7 tion of a part of the door check. is provided with a `projection 7l1 which en In a helical torsion spring the direction of gages with the projection 13 (see Fig. 5) to wind up may be reversed by holding the provide a driving connection between the so spring in the same relative position and respring barrel7 and spring anchor 12 the purversing the anchoring of the two ends; in pose of which will hereinafter appear. other words, if the spring is anchored at its Fitting over the upperend of shaft 3 and lower end and can be wound up by turning rotatable thereon is an upper spring anchor or twisting the upper endV in a right hand or 111 having a downwardly extending projec- 85 clockwise direction as seen from above; then tion 15 thereon which is adapted to engage if the upper or top end of the spring is ana pin 16 in shaft 3 in a manner to be herechored, the same kind of strain can be put on inafter more fully described. Fitted within the coils as before if the lower end of the the upper end of spring barrel 7 is a driving spring is rotated or twisted in the reverse or thimble 17 which is rigidly connected with 90 counter clockwise direction. With this printhe spring barrel 7. The driving thimble ciple in mind, I have provided a doorcheck 17 which is rigidly connected with the spring which is adapted for use on either right hand barrel 7 The driving thimble 17 is proor left hand doors without replacement or vided with a depending lug 18 which substitution of parts and in which the direcengages with an upwardly extending pro- 95 tion of wind up of the spring may be reversed jection 19 formed on the upper side of the by means of a very simple adjustment. upper spring anchor 14.

Referring now to the drawings the refer- Arranged within the spring barrel or sleeve y ence character 1 designates a cup shaped cas- 7 is a helical torsion spring 20 the lower end ing, the top of which is exteriorly threaded of which is positioned wlthin a slot in the 10U lower spring anchor 12 and the upper end of which is engaged in a slot in the upper spring-anchor 14. The cap 2 is provided with an annular upstanding shoulder 21 which fits snugly around the reduced upper end of barrel 7 and which is exteriorly threaded to receive a nut 22 and packing 23. Non-rotatably connected with the upper end of barrel 7 is a door lever 24 which is held in place by a lock nut 25. It will thus be seen that the ('OPr lever 24, barrel 7 and thimble 17 move in unison.

Fitting over the lower end of the shaft 3 is a cup 26 the periphery of which is knurled and which is provided with a projection 27. The cup 26 is non-rotatably secured over the shaft 3 and serves as a means for turning the shaft. The cup 26 is secured in place by means of an acorn nut 28 which clamps the cup against the housing or casing 1.

Arranged within the outer annular chamber 9 and rigidly connected with the outer wall 1 is an annular block 29 having therein a bore or passageway 30. Connecting the channel 30 with the interior of the chamber 9- are a pair of oppositely disposed bores or 1passageways 31 and 32. A second' pair of ores or passageways 33 and 34 are also prothe bores 33 and 34 are downwardly seating vided in the block 29 and arranged within ball valves 35 and 36 which Aare held within the bores by pins 35 and 36.

Arranged within the upper portion of the chamber 9 is an annular block 37 having a downwardly extending portion 38 the lower end of which is reduced as shown at 39. The downwardlyprojecting portion 38 is somewhat arcuate 1n shape and fits snugly within the chamber 9, the reduced lower end 39 tting within a notch in the block 29 as shown in Fig. 7. The upper side of the block 37 is provided with a recess in which is arranged a compression coil spring 4() which serves to hold the reduced lower end 39 in engagement with the notch in the block 29. 4Also arranged within the chamber 9 isa valve member or vvane 41 which is pivotally secured to the spring barrel 7 by means of a pair of plates 42 and 43. The valve member or vane 41 is somewhat arcuate in shape as seen in Fig. 6 so as to frictionally engage and conform to the shape of the outer wall- 1. A plate 44 is secured to-the casing 1 by any suitable means and is provided with a plurality of openings 45 adapted to receive screws therethrough for securing the check in place. The chamber 9 is adapted to be filled. with a liquid the purpose of which is to cushion or check the closing action of the door on which the check is used. The reduced' lower end 6 of the casing is provided with suitable indicia for indicating the position at which the cup 26 is to be set for right or left hand doors. The parts are assembled as hereinbefore described and the operation of the device is as follows:

Assuming that the check is secured in place on a right hand door, that is, a door that opens toward the right, the door lever 24 will be moved and with it the spring barrel 7 and driving thimble 17. Lug 18 on thimble 17 will engage lug 19 on upper spring anchor 14 and rotate the same counter clockwise as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. IProjection 15 on spring anchor 14 moves away from pin 16 in shaft 3. Projection 11 on lock washer 10 engages projection 13 on lower spring anchor 12 and holds the lower spring anchor against turning. As the opposite ends of the spring 20 are engaged in slots in the upper and lower spring anchors 14 and 12 respectively, it will be seen that the spring will be wound up from the top or upper end. As the spring barrel is rotated,| the vane 41 which is secured thereto is alsovrotated. The liquid in the chamber 9 in front of the vane escapes through the passages 32 and 31 into the bore or channel30 and up through the passageway 33 past the valve 35 to the opposite side of the vane. When the door has been opened to its fullest extent the spring 20 is placed under its maximum tension and when the door is released the spring tends to return the parts to their original position. That portion of the chamber 9 between the vane 41 and the abutment or projection 38 is now lled with liquid. This liquid serves to cushion and check the closing of the door. The trapped liquidv will escape through the pas sageway 32, and also through passageway 31 if the door has been opened to its fullest eX- tent, and into the channel 30 and up through 'the passageway 34 past the valve 36 to the opposite side of the vane 41. After the vane in its return movement has moved beyond both ports 3l and 32, the pressure of the liquid against the upper block 37 will push the same upwardly against the tension of the spring 40 and the liquid will escape past and around the lower end of the projection 38 to the opposite side of the vane. .It will thusv be seen that the maximum checking action is obtained during the last stage of the closing movement of the door. The edges of the bores 31 and 32 are slightly beveled as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 so that this checking action will be gradual instead of sudden as the flow through the ports 31 and 32, as the case may be, will be cut off gradually.

In order to adapt the check for use on a door which opens toward the left. it is merely necessary to loosen the acorn nut 28 and turn the cup 26 toward the right as seen in Fig. 1 until the projection 27 is opposite the character L on the surface 6. This movement of the cup 6 turns the shaft3 and its associated parts including the spring 20 -and spring barrel 7 and the vane 41 until the vane is positioned on the opposite side ofthe chamber 9 from that shown in Fig. 6. The clamping nut 28 will now be tightened and will produce suiiicient friction between the cup and housin to hold the cup against the wind up 5 load o the spring. Now, should the door lever 24 be moved toward the left, the spring barrel will be moved clockwise as seen in Figs. 4 and 5. The lug 18 will move away from lug 19 and lug 7 a will engage projection 13 on lower spring anchor 12 and turn the lower spring anchor. The pin 16 in shaft 3 will engage projection 15 and hold the upperspring anchor against turning and the spring 20 will be wound from the bottom. The operation of the vane 41 will be the same as hereinbefore describedexcept that it will be moved in the opposite direction.

It will now be clear that I have provided a door check which will accomplish the objects of the invention as hereinbefore stated. Various changes may be made in the details of my construction without departing from the spirit of my invention and I wish my invention to be limited only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what 1. A door check of the class described comprising a casing adapted to contain a liquid, a spring barrel dividing the casing into an inner compartment and an outer compartment and having a portion projecting through said `casing and adapted to be connected to a door lever, a shaft arranged within said spring barrel and having upper and lower spring anchors rotatably mounted thereon, a coil spring encircling said shaft and having its upper and lower ends connected to said upper and lower anchors respectively, manually operable means carried by said shaft and adapted to be selectively positioned to form a driving connection between said spring barrel and either said upper or said lower spring anchors and to hold the opposite spring anchor from turning., a vane arranged within said outer compartment and secured to said spring barrel and means for checking .the movementof said vane in one direction.

2. A door check of the class described comprising a casing, al spring barrel arranged within said casing and dividing the same into inner and outer compartments 'and having a portion projecting through said casing, a door lever non-rotatably connected to said spring barrel, a shaft arranged within said inner 'compartment and having upper and lower spring anchors rotatably mounted thereon, a coil spring encircling said shaft and havin its upper and lower ends connected with said upper and llower spring anchors respectively,I manually operable means adapted to be selectively positioned to form a driving connection between said spring to prevent the opposite spring anchor from turning whereby said spring maybev Wound up from either end and means arranged within said outer compartment for resisting the return movement of said spring.

3. A door check of the class described comprising a casing, a spring barrel arranged within said casing and dividing the same into inner and outer compartments,` a door lever non-rotatably connected to said spring barrel, a shaft arranged within said inner compartment and having upper and lower sprin anchors rotatably secured' thereon, a lco5 spring surrounding said shaft and having its upper and lower ends connected with said upper and lower spring anchors respectively, manually operable means' associated with said shaft and spring barrel adapted to be selectively positioned to form a'driving connection between said spring barrel and either of said spring anchors and to prevent the opposite spring anchor from turning whereby said spring may be wound up from either end, and means arranged within said outer compartment for resisting the return movement of said spring. A

4. A door check of the class described comprising a casing, a spring barrel arranged within said casing and dividing the same into a pair of compartments and having a portion projecting through the upper end of said casing, a door lever non-rotatabl secured to said projecting portion, a sha t arranged within said spring barrel, a coil spring encircling said shaft,.spring anchorsI arranged upon opposite ends of said shaft and connected with the opposite ends of said spring respectively, manually operable means carried by said shaft and operable from the exterior of said casing and adapted to be selectively positioned to connect said spring barrel with either one of said spring anchors and to hold the other spring anchor against turning whereby said spring may be wound up from either end selectively.

5. A door check of' the class described comprising a casing, a spring barrel arranged Within said casing, a chamber formed springbarrel and adjustable to differentpo- Y sitions whereby to connect said spring barrel with either the upper or' the lower end of said spring. v

6. A door` check of the class described comprising a casing, a spring barrel arranged within said casing and dividing the 65 barrel and either of said spring anchors and same into a pair of compartments, a shaft 130 arranged within one of said compartments, a vane arranged within the other compartment and connected with said spring barrel, a door lever connected with said spring barrel whereby the same may be rotated, and manually operable means carried by said shaft and adjustable to different positions to connect said spring barrel with either the upper or the lower end of said spring.

7. In a door check, the combination of a casing having a pair of compartments, a spring barrel arranged within said casing, a coil spring arranged within said spring barrel and manually operable means arranged within said casing and operable from the exterior thereof and adapted to be selectively positioned so as to connect either end of said spring with said spring barrel and to hold the opposite end of said spring against turning whereby said spring may be wound up from either end.

8. In a door check, the combination ol' a easing, a spring barrel arranged within said casing, a coil spring arranged within said spring barrel and manually operable means operable from the exterior of said casing and adapted to be selectively positioned to connect either end of said spring with said spring barrel and to hold the opposite end of said spring against turning wliereby said spring may be wound up from either end.

9. In a door check, the combination of a casing, a. spring barrel arranged within said easing and dividing the same into a pair of compartments, a door lever' connected with said spring barrel, a spring arranged within said spring barrel, manually operable means arranged within said spring barrel and operable from the exterior thereof for selectively connecting either end of said spring with said spring barrel whereby the same is tensioned when said door lever is moved, and means for checking the return movement of said spring.

10. In a door check, a casing, a spring barrel arranged within said casing, a coil spring arranged within said spring barrel and adapted to bc tensioned when said spring barrel is turned in one direction, said spring barrel having a portion extending through said casing and adapted to be con nected with a door lever, manually operable means adapted to be selectively positioned to connect said spring barrel with either end of said coil spring and to hold the opposite end of said spring against turning.

11. In a door check, a casing, a spring barrel arranged within said casing and divi'ding the same into a pair ot compartments adapted to be filled with a liquid, a vane arranged within one of said conipartments and pivotally secured to said spring barrel` a coil spring arranged within said spring barrel, manually operable means adapted to be selectively positioned so as to connect said spring barrel with either end of said coil spring and to hold the opposite end of said coil spring against turning.

12. In a door check, a casing having a pair of compartments, a springbarrel arranged within said casing, an oscillatory vane arranged within one of said compartments and connected with said spring barrel, means for turning said spring barrel, a coil spring arranged within said spring barrel, manually operable means adapted to be selectively positioned to connect said spring barrel with either end of said spring and to hold the opposite end of said spring against turning whereby said spring may be wound up from either end when said spring barrel is turned and means for regulating the return movement of said spring barrel and oscillatory vane.

13. In a door check, the combination of a casing, a tubular member arranged within said casing and dividing the same into a pair of compartments, a shaft arranged within one of said compartments, a door lever nonrotatably connected with said drum, a coil spring encircling said shaft, means forming a driving connection between said tubular member and springr and embodying manually operable adjustable means for connecting either the upper or lower end of said spring with said tubular member whereby said spring may be wound up from the top or from the bottom.

14. In a door check, the combination of a casing, a spring barrell arranged within said casing and dividing the same into an inner and an outer compartment, a shaft arranged within said inner compartment, a coil spring encircling said shaft, a vane disposed within said outer compartment and pivotally con nected with said spring barrel, said outer compartment being adapted to be filled with liquid, and adjustable means mounted on the lower end of said casing for connecting said spring barrel with either the upper or the lower end of said spring.

15. In a door check,a casing having a pair of compartments, a spring barrel arranged within said casing, an oscillatory vane arranged within one of said compartments and secured to said spring barrel, means for oscillatmg said spring barrel, a coil spring for returning said spring barrel to its original position and means arranged within said :asing and movable to different positions to coz;- nect said spring barrel with either the upper or the lower end of said spring.

16. A hydraulic check comprising a casini' a spring barrel arranged within said casing and having a"y portion projecting through said casing, a shaft arranged within said spring barrel and having upper and lower spring anchors rotatably mounted thereon, a coil spring encircling said shaft and having its upper and lower ends connected to said upper and lower anchors respectively and manually operable means carried by said shaft and 'operable from the exterior of said casing and adapted to be selectively positioned to :form a driving connection between said spring barrel and either said upper or said lower spring anchors and to hold the opposite spring anchor from turning.

17. In a hydraulic check, a casing, a spring barrel arranged within said casing and dividing the same into a pair of compartments adapted to contain a liquid, a vane arranged within one of said compartments and operatively connected with said spring barrel, a coil spring arranged within said spring barrel and manually operable means operable from the exterior of said casing and adapted to be selectively positioned so as to connect said spring barrel with either the upper or the lower end of said coil spring and to hold the opposite end of said coil spring against turning.

18. In a door check, a casing having a pair of compartments, a spring barrel arranged within said casing, an oscillatory vane arranged within one of said compartments and connected with said spring barrel, means for turning said spring barrel, a coil spring arranged within said spring barrel, manually l operable means adapted to be selectively positioned to connect said spring barrel with either the upper or the lower end of said spring and to hold the opposite end of said spring against turning whereby said spring may be wound up from either end when said spring barrel is turned.

19. In a door check, the combination of a casing, a spring barrel arranged within said casing and dividing the same intoaninner and an outer compartment, a shaft arranged within said inner compartment, a coil spring encircling said shaft, a vane disposed within said outer compartment and connected with said spring barrel, said outer compartment being adapted to be filled with liquid, and adjustable means forming a driving connection between said spring barrel and either the upper or the lower end of said spring.

20. A hydraulic check comprising a casing adapted to contain a liquid, a tubular member arranged within said casing and dividing the same into a pair of compartments, a vane arranged within one of said compartments and operatively connected with said tubular member, a coil spring arranged within the other of said compartments and manually operable means operable from the exterior of said casing and adapted to be selectively positioned to operatively connect said tubular member with either the upper or the lower end of said coil spring and to hold the opposite end of said coil spring against turning whereby said spring may be wound up from either end, and means for imparting a turning movement to said tubular member.

21. In a hydraulick check the combination of a casing adapted to contain a liquid, a tubular member arranged within said casing and cooperating therewith to form a compression chamber, a vane arranged within said compression chamber and operatively connected 'with said` tubular member, an abutment arranged within said compression chamber and non-rotatably secured therein and adapted to be lifted when the pressure within the chamber reaches a predetermined amount, a coil spring arranged within said tubular member, and means adapted to be selectively .positioned to form a driving connection between said tubular member and either end of said coil spring and to hold the opposite end of said coil spring against turning, and means for impartin a turning movement to said tubular mem er. n

22. In a door check, the combination of a casing, a spring barrel arranged within said casing and dividing the same into an inner and an outer compartment, a shaft arranged within said inner compartment, a coil spring encircling said shaft, a lvane disposed within said outer compartment and connected with said spring barrel, said outer compartment being adapted to be iilled with liquid, and adjustable means mounted on the lower end of said casing for connecting said spring barrel with either the upper or the lower end of said spring.

23. In a hydraulic check, the combination of a casing adapted to contain a liquid, a tubular member arranged within said casing, and cooperating therewith to define a compression chamber, a vane arranged within said compression chamber and operatively connected with said tubular member, an abutment disposed within said compression chamber and non-rotatably secured therein, a coil spring arranged within said casing and means adapted to be selectively positioned to form a driving connection between said tubular member and either end of said coil spring and to hold the opposite end of said coil spring against turning, and means for imparting a turning movement to said tubular member.

24. In a hydraulic check, the combination of aV casing adapted to contain a liquid, a tubular member arranged within said casing, and cooperating therewith to define a compression chamber, a vane arranged within said compression chamber and operatively connected with said tubular member, an abutment disposed within said compression chamber and non-rotatably secured therein, a coil spring arranged within said casing and means adapted to be selectively positioned to form a driving connection between said tubular member and either end of said coil spring and to hold the opposite end of said coil spring against turning, and means for imparting a turning movement to said tubular member, and means Withinsaid casing Whereby the maximum checking action is obtained during the latter part of the movement of said vane in either direction. 25. In a hydraulic check, the combination of a casing adapted to contain a liquid, a tubular member arranged within said casing, and cooperating therewith to define a compression chamber, a vane arranged Within 10 said compression chamber and operatively connected with said tubular member, an abutment disposed Within said compression chamber and non-rotatably secured therein, a coil spring arranged Within said casing and means adapted to be selectively positioned to form a driving connection between said tubular member and either end of said coil spring and to hold the opposite end of said coil spring against turning, and means for imparting a turning movement to said tubular member, and means Within said casing Whereby the checking action will be progressively increased and reach its maximum during the last part of the movement of said vane.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aiiix my signature.

COURTN EY N. MITCHELL. 

